AASU to ULFA-I: Upamanyu Hazarika blames political parties

Prabajan Virodhi Mancha convener Upamanyu Hazarika on Friday blamed the political parties of Assam for the youths joining the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I). Referring to the incident of the vice president of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Vice President of Dergaon unit, Pankaj Pratim Dutta joining the ULFA-I, Hazarika targeted political parties of Assam and said Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “has destroyed the hopes of the people and particularly the younger generation”.

Hazarika said, “Not only Pankaj but many youths of Assam have joined ULFA in recent times.Anti-indigenous stand of the present leadership in government, whether it be in the Supreme Court on critical issue of identity, supporting the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, covering up discrepancies in the National Register of Citizens and so on has lead a sense of despair and loss of faith in the system”

Hazarika said, “Why is it that a youth with duties and obligation towards his aging parents and a reasonable position in society, to preserve and save the identity of his people take up arms? In the last 29 months, the new government and leaders, who represent the entire spectrum of leadership fighting for the cause of the indigenous identity, has betrayed and driven everyone into state of despair, particularly the youth.”

“The ULFA-I was formed in 1979 but saw an increase in popularity and recruitment during the last stage of the Assam movement when the people lost hope in the system and similar growth was seen during the AGP government’s tenure when the leaders of the agitation were seen to have betrayed the cause”, added Hazarika

Hazarika expressed his outrage and said that the government is solely responsible for the Assamese youths getting inclined towards the terrorists outfits. Hazarika fears a repetition of Operation Bajrang after 20-25 years and said that the government would be responsible for it.